Atlas
The Titan condemned to bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders at the western edge of the world for eternity.
The Myth of Atlas
Atlas was the son of Iapetus and Clymene, brother of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius. He led the Titan forces in the Titanomachy, and for this Zeus condemned him to stand at the western edge of the world and hold up the sky — not the earth, as commonly depicted, but Ouranos itself, the dome of the heavens. His name may derive from the Greek a-tlenai, meaning to endure or to bear, making him the Endurer. Heracles encountered Atlas during his eleventh labour, seeking the golden apples of the Hesperides. Atlas offered to fetch them if Heracles would hold the sky. When Atlas returned, he tried to leave Heracles trapped, but the hero tricked him into taking the burden back momentarily. Perseus later turned Atlas to stone using Medusa's head, and the Titan became the Atlas Mountains of North Africa — his body becoming the ridge that supports the African sky.
Fun Fact
Atlas holds the sky, not the earth — the common image of him carrying a globe is a Renaissance misunderstanding.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Atlas
🏔 titanTitan condemned to hold up the sky
The Titan who was condemned to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. His name became synonymous with endurance and with books of maps.
Hyperion
🏔 titanTitan of heavenly light, observation
Titan of light and father of the sun, moon, and dawn. Hyperion was one of the original twelve Titans, embodying the celestial light that preceded the Olympians.
Helios
🏔 titanThe all-seeing Titan of the sun
The Titan who drove the sun chariot across the sky each day and saw everything that happened on earth below.
Crius
🏔 titanTitan of constellations
Crius was the Titan associated with the constellations — one of four brothers who held Uranus at the corners of the earth during his castration.
Gyges
🏔 titanhundred-handed earth-born power
One of the three Hecatoncheires, the hundred-handed giants born of Gaia and Uranus.
Prometheus
🏔 titanpunishment
Titan who stole fire from the gods for humanity and was chained to a mountain where an eagle ate his liver daily.
Koios
🏔 titanTitan of the axis of heaven and rational inquiry
The Titan associated with the celestial pole and intellectual inquiry, father of Leto and grandfather of Apollo.
Menoetius
🏔 titanHubris, Recklessness
A second-generation Titan struck down by Zeus for his violent pride during the war between gods and Titans.
Menoetius
🏔 titanTitan of violent anger and rash action
A Titan struck down by Zeus for his hubris and violent temper during the war between Titans and Olympians.
Kreios
🏔 titanTitan of constellations
A Titan associated with the heavenly constellations, father of Astraeus, Pallas, and Perses through his union with Eurybia.
Iapetus
🏔 titanTitan father of Prometheus and Atlas
Iapetus was the Titan whose sons shaped humanity's relationship with the gods more than any other divine family.
Prometheus
🏔 titanTitan of forethought, champion of mankind
The Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, earning eternal punishment. Prometheus is one of mythology's greatest rebels and benefactors.